A bioblitz brings together expert naturalists and taxonomic scientists to inventory as many species as possible in a particular area in a set amount of time, typically over 24 hours. The species records are compiled into a single data set of the biodiversity in that location at that point in time.

Often, the experts are joined by interested members of the general public for a community-style bioblitz, which blends scientific inventory, guided educational activities and nature programming so that everyone can contribute to real science, while connecting with nature in a personally meaningful experience.

NATURALIST HEROES

Naturalist Hero: Abbé Léon Provancher (1820-1892)

Canada's 'Father of Natural History', with a special love for insects.

The label for this species in his own hand.
Credit : Cory Sheffield, Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Lectotype female of 'Andrena nigripes Provancher' Big-headed Andrena i.e. the actual individual bee caught by Provancher in 1895 used by him to identify it as a species "new' to science.

As he was the flrst to describe the species scientiflcally, he got to give its Latin name. And in its offlcial complete Latin name, his name always appears too.
Credit : Cory Sheffield, Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Nature's son in childhood and then a father of the Catholic Church in parishes across Lower Canada, he carried out some of the earliest methodical field studies across all aspects of nature, and compiled some of the earliest -and long the only- written resources For many of them. He kept up an active network of correspondence throughout North America to share information among experts, and to encourage others to deepen their interest.

Entomologist, botanist, writer, priest, science education advocate.

Abbé Leon Provancher. Source: Eveche de Chicoutimi

Provancher founded Le Naturaliste canadien, the first French-language scientific journal in North America, which today is distributed in 41 countries. He wrote on many topics: insects, botany, parasites and fungal diseases. He discovered and described more than 1,000 species then unknown to science, especially in the order of wasps and bees.

He wanted everyone to learn the sciences of nature, and campaigned For higher education in mid-19th century Lower Canada to teach more than theology, medicine and law. He pushed For a botanical garden in Quebec City and a museum of natural history at Universite Laval. Designated a Person of National Importance in Canada, his inspiration continues to this day, including in the work of the educational not-For-profit scientific cultural and historical organization La Maison Leon-Provancher in Quebec City, and by the Leon-Provancher Ecological Reserve on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.

His extensive writings were the 'bibles' for the next generation of naturalists and a pathway for beginners into a vast realm to explore.

"This pursuit, as agreeable as it is uselut has many amateur enthusiasts who, it is hoped, will dive into the study al insects."

In his later years he settled at Cap-Rouge, Quebec where he undertook his great works on insects
Source : Eveche de Chicoutimi

The manuscript of Insect Life of Quebec, the volume on butterflies and moths.
Source : Archives Seminaire de Chicoutimi, Fonds abbe Leon Provancher ASC-P0A-BOl-D62